Blahg

8 February U2009

Is Ore-Ida trying to pull some cutbacks on consumers? The pun's thoroughly intended by this "outraged" consumer.

I really like their country-style shredded hashbrowns, but since U2's gonna tour this summer, I've gotta trim the budget a bit. One incisive budgetary maneuver was to switch from the country-style to southern-style, the chunky hashbrowns that offer 32 oz. to the bag instead of 30 oz. - for the same price.

But I was a little mortified this morning when, while whipping up another awesome Mattopian-sized breakfast at stately Matt Manor, I found out the southern-style hashbrowns no longer match the product on the bag photo. Instead of the familiar chunks, those hashbrowns look a heckuva lot like chopped up versions of Ore-Ida's crinkle-cut french fries.

Boooo hiss to Ore-Ida.

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7 February U2009

It's easily the coolest, slickest video U2's ever produced.

I need say no more.

Get in the sound at U2.com.

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1 February U2009

Heh. So what's the song playing during the new NFL commercial launched during Super Bowl XLIII? Get on Your Boots!

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19 January U2009

Get on Your Boots!

Just heard the first single, Get on Your Boots, off U2's new album, No Line on the Horizon.

Those boots were made for kickin' arse!

Wow! Pure U2opia on this fine Monday morning and now I'm all goosebumped out and ready to rumble. The song's a real rocker that blends a number of U2 staples - elements of Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, Atomic Bomb - into something fresh and exciting.

I've got my boots on and I'm ready to tour!

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18 January U2009

We Are One... with or without Comcast

I don't subscribe to HBO so I was pleased when they announced they were carrying the We Are One inaugural concert and they were making it available for free to their various outlets.

I wound up watching it online. Yes. They went so far as to make it available (for free) LIVE right on their Web site. I had to watch it online because Comcast wasn't making it available to non-subscribers. It was a crock which led me to chatting online with a Comcast representative who assured me the 19:00 encore would be available to all. I called them out on their non-participation, explaining this gesture of goodwill is something they should be eager to take advantage of while they keep jacking up my rates.

HBO's come out looking mighty darn good. Comcast? No. Not at all.

Anyway, I've gotta say it was a truly remarkable assembly of talent that moved along like clockwork, finishing up right on time two hours after it started. I guess that's to be expected from director Don Mischer and producer George Stevens, Jr., veterans, collectively, of big event productions like Super Bowl halftime shows and Kennedy Center Honors.

Heck, even HBO.com's Webcast was flawless. It wasn't high-def, but it was 100% glitch free.

Naturally, for me the highlight was seeing my band, U2, back on stage and watching Bono retool City of Blinding Lights for the special occasion. He is indeed the master. That, along with Pride, turned out to be a terrific duo of songs.

I was also pleased with the Boss and his opening song, The Rising, complete with choir. It was reminiscent of when he opened the 9/11 concert with My City of Ruins, backed by a (smaller) choir.

The finale was also absolutely top notch, starring a very able 89-year-old Pete Seeger in a knit cap and a big ol' smile. How do you top Seeger and the Boss turning This Land Is Your Land into a sing-a-long for half-a-million? With Beyonce singing America the Beautiful while all the other talent takes the stage for their bows. Wowza! Beyonce knocked it out of the park. Even Bono was seen on camera saying, "Wow."

Of course, Stevie Wonder singing Higher Ground with Shakira and Usher was a hot standout on this bitter cold D.C. afternoon.

Over all, I was impressed with how even the spoken word portions went over well. Jack Black talkin' seriously? I kept waiting for him to say "AWEsome," but he didn't take the bait. He stayed on message.

If anything got on my nerves, it was Garth Brooks. Never been big on the guy. Shout was cool, but the rest of his bit, roughly the equivalent of a half-time show, was a little forced.

Late Update: Comcast did make the 19:00 encore available to all. But only in standard definition. The HD channel was still locked out. Cheap, shady bastards.

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